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“Well,Iwas enjoying the sham—and the garden, and the lights, and the music; it all pleases my sense of Aesthetics.”

Aurienne dismissed the Aesthetics with a flick of her fingers. “Answer me about the urine.”

“Yes, I had a piss,” said Mordaunt, with slight, alcohol-induced slurring. “Since we’re ruining everything with vulgar reality.”

“Quantity?”

“Well, I didn’tmeasureit.”

“Normal?”

“Yes. Gods.”

“Excellent. You’re well enough to leave tomorrow. We can draw the charade to a close. You may go back to enjoying the Aesthetics.”

Mordaunt resumed this activity by observing the glittering crowd below. “Your family likes their jewels.”

“They do,” said Aurienne. “Have you seen anything you like?”

“Some.”

“Have you stolen anything from the house yet?”

“You still don’t trust me?”

“No,” said Aurienne. “I know you’ve thought about it.”

“It is a fascinating house. So automated. Mine must seem rather—”

“Primitive,” suggested Aurienne.

“Traditional,” said Mordaunt. “Your mother is quite the horologist.”

“Her favourite holiday location is La Chaux-de-Fonds, if that gives you an idea.”

Mordaunt’s eyebrows rose at this mention of the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. “I’m even more tempted now. Her alarm system has, admittedly, given me pause.”

“I was right: you’re a common thief.”

“Not common.Notcommon.”

“Have you no pleasure in life but to acquire things that aren’t yours?” asked Aurienne.

Mordaunt gave her a look veiled by heavy eyelids and drink. “I have other pleasures,” he said, and did not elaborate further.

“I ought to go warn my aunts to count their diamonds.”

Mordaunt’s fingers tightened at her waist. “But then you won’t be here to supervise me. Anyway, you can’t leave yet—the song hasn’t ended. It’ll look like we had a falling-out.”

“We exist in a perpetual state of falling out.”

“Others needn’t know the sordid truth,” said Mordaunt. Aurienne matched him in a slow spin. “These few days have been a pleasant interlude, false as they were.”

“For you, perhaps,” said Aurienne. “I’ll be subject to questions about you until I tell my parents it’s over.”

“What excuse will you give for my ignominious loss of your favour?”

“A selection of sordid truths,” said Aurienne. “I shall tell them you were too smug, too arrogant, too convinced that you were right all the time, and that these things suffocated all your other attractions. To the bin with you.”